Suddenly, her chest churned, and she vomited the medicine, which mixed with stomach acid, turning bitter and sour. Lying on the bed, she kept vomiting. Gradually, the black liquid turned dark red, the taste shifting to a bloody flavor. She felt sharp pain in her chest and covered her mouth. After several mouthfuls of blood, she felt somewhat better, her head light and floating. Struggling to get out of bed, she moved to the qin table and sat cross-legged.
The green qin on the table was a gift from the man she loved most. What did this represent? Charity or favor? Xu Qiu’er laughed coldly, her fingers brushing the strings, producing a clear and pleasant sound. It was indeed a fine qin.
Xu Qiu’er picked up a string and plucked it hard. With a “twang,” the string broke, cutting her finger and causing a drop of blood to land on the white qin string, resembling a blood tear.
Physical pain faded, but the anguish in her heart persisted, and tears slowly dripped onto the qin platform. Amid the blood and tears, the sound of the strings breaking continued until all seven were snapped.
She didn’t hear the sound of the strings breaking, but felt what seemed like ice crystals shattering inside her.
Ning’er noticed Xu Qiu’er’s deep, dim eyes gazing at the qin strings, like a quiet autumn pool in moonlight.
“My lady…” Ning’er called out as Xu Qiu’er remained silent. Turning her head, Xu Qiu’er stood up and commanded, “Have someone throw away the qin.”
“Throw it away?” Ning’er was increasingly confused by Xu Qiu’er’s thoughts.
In Fuqiu Hall, illuminated by palace lanterns and warmed by a blazing fireplace, Xu Qiu’er and Ning’er sat playing chess. Ning’er placed a black piece and asked, “Your Highness, why did you want to…?” She was genuinely puzzled, as logically, after returning to the palace, Xu Liangyi should have reported to the Prince, but he hadn’t.
The Empress was strange; the Prince clearly cared for her, but what was her intention tonight? It made Ning’er’s head spin.
Xu Qiu’er captured Ning’er’s chess piece and asked, “Ning’er, you want to know why I jumped into the lake tonight, right?” Ning’er nodded. Xu Qiu’er then asked, “How do you think the Prince treats me?”
Ning’er replied, “This servant believes the Prince favors the Empress the most.” Logically, this was what the Empress wanted, but why push the Prince away?
The snow fell harder.
“You’re right – it’s favor, not trust,” Xu Qiu’er said softly. Ning’er was confused; could trust be more important than being favored? Xu Qiu’er explained, “You’ve seen how Xu Qing’er was favored, yet a small suspicion was enough to send her to the Cold Palace.”
“Isn’t that good?” Ning’er questioned.
Xu Qiu’er smiled faintly, “If Long Hanjie had truly sent Xu Qing’er to the Cold Palace, she wouldn’t have appeared tonight. Xu Qing’er holds a special position in Long Hanjie’s heart; he would never act against her unless absolutely necessary.”
Ning’er frowned, “This servant doesn’t understand. Why didn’t Xu Liangyi report to the Prince tonight when she had the chance?”
Xu Qiu’er gave a cold laugh, “She’s not avoiding revenge. She’s waiting for an opportunity.”
“An opportunity?”
“An opportunity to destroy me.”
Ning’er’s chess piece slipped from her hand. “Your Highness, doesn’t this push the Prince closer to Xu Liangyi?”
Xu Qiu’er withdrew her gaze. “Long Hanjie doesn’t trust me. Just a few words from Xu Qing’er or Li Qing’er could raise his suspicions. As long as he doubts me, I cannot sit securely.”
Ning’er lowered her head, increasingly confused.
Xu Qiu’er sighed softly, “A broken guitar string can be restrung; some things, once damaged, can never be repaired.”
In the Crown Prince’s Bedchamber –
“Your Highness,” Gongsun Jinyu, having changed her clothes, walked out of the bedchamber.
Long Hanjie played with a jade ornament. “How did you end up there?”
Gongsun Jinyu replied, “The Autumn Concubine knew I could swim and asked me to wait by the lake.”
“Wait?” Long Hanjie looked at her meaningfully. “When did you become Xu Qiu’er’s person?”
Gongsun Jinyu remained composed. “This servant belongs to no one. Many things have happened in the palace during Your Highness’s absence.”
Long Hanjie inwardly sneered. If Xu Qiu’er hadn’t staged this performance, he might still have felt guilty. But something seemed off – she had arranged people to rescue her, so why jump in? And which side was Gongsun Jinyu on?
The rose-colored silk draped obliquely, half-covering Xu Qiu’er’s body. Her cloud-like black hair was wet and scattered on the wrinkled pillow. Xu Qiu’er’s starry eyes were slightly open, her gaze unfocused as she looked at the tassels hanging from the bed’s canopy.
Slowly, she lifted the blanket and struggled to get out of bed. The cold air caused her to shiver, and she supported herself against the wall, moving step by step to the dressing table.
The silver mirror on the table reflected her pale face and delicate bruises, exuding an enchanting air.
Xu Qiu’er stared at her reflection as tears silently slid down her face, splashing onto the gold-inlaid dressing table, creating ripples.
Suddenly, she grabbed a glass mirror box from the table and smashed it against the mirror. With a loud bang, the glass shattered into countless fragments around her feet.
The silver mirror remained intact, clearly presenting every part of Xu Qiu’er’s body in exquisite detail.
Finally, Xu Qiu’er could no longer support herself, sliding beneath the dressing table like an autumn leaf, trembling as she curled into a ball, softly sobbing.
Guan Yue and Chang Yue were absent, and the palace servants dared not enter without Xu Qiu’er’s command. The empty palace echoed her faint whimpers, drifting like a desolate tune on a moonlit night.
The door quietly opened, and someone tiptoed inside.
The light footsteps startled Xu Qiu’er, who stopped crying and looked up.
The familiar face reflected in the mirror left Xu Qiu’er shocked, her eyes wide and biting her bloodless lower lip.
Suddenly awakening from her dream, Xu Qiu’er gasped, feeling a heaviness in her chest. As she sat up, a wave of pain struck, and she realized something was wrong. “Cang… Yue…” Unbalanced, she fell to the ground.
Cang Yue, waiting outside the hall, heard the call followed by a loud thud. Rushing in, she found Xu Qiu’er with black blood at the corner of her mouth, and her heart sank as she called for help.
Are you hitting me for that bitch?” The empress was furious, violently smashing the amber to the ground and raising her foot to crush it.
“Dare to step on it and see what happens?” The emperor’s aura grew increasingly intense. Jealousy flashed in the empress’s eyes as she stomped down heavily.
The sound of shattering bone was audible, with blood seeping from the empress’s hand.
“Mmm…” The sharp pain almost made her faint, but she gritted her teeth, clutching the amber tightly.
The emperor could bear it no longer, bending down to drag the empress up, prying open her fingers and snatching the amber.
The empress screamed hoarsely: “Why? How am I inferior to her? Why are your eyes only on her? She’s been dead for many years!”
Blood dripped from the fragments, staining his sleeve red. He spoke coldly: “Who I look at is none of your concern.”
“None of my concern?” The empress cried, “Who says it’s not my concern? I love you!” Her voice lowered, releasing his hand, gazing blankly and murmuring, “I really… love you so much, Emperor…”
The emperor stepped back, leaning against the wall, glaring at the empress. “But I don’t like you. I hate you! In this world, I hate you the most.”
The empress felt as if her heart had been stabbed. “Don’t say it! I won’t let you say such things!” she called out hoarsely.
“You know how you killed Zi’er,” the emperor said through gritted teeth.
